Trio charged with kidnapping of man now presumed dead, investigators probe ties to other disappearances

Three Albany men have been charged with kidnapping a high-level marijuana dealer who vanished in June and is presumed dead — and investigators are probing possible ties to two other local missing persons cases.

Gino Uzzell, 47, of Green Street, Anthony Davis, 39, of North Allen Street; and Jason Benn, 37, of Hudson Avenue; stand charged with the abduction of Steven Jackson outside a marijuana storage house on Parkwood Street on June 13.

Their arrests come after a six-month investigation that revealed possible ties to the disappearances of Ashley Marie Carroll, 24, a Rensselaer woman last seen in May, and a missing man identified as Donald Green.

Authorities believe Jackson, 41, of Guilderland, known as “Swag,” had been a drug partner of Uzzell, who allegedly orchestrated his abduction with the help of cronies that included his two codefendants.

Jackson, formerly of Hempstead on Long Island, was awaiting the delivery of drugs in a deal involving around 500 pounds of marijuana when he was abducted, investigators say.

They allege kidnappers surveilled Jackson for months on Parkwood Street — using a GPS tracking device — in a criminal conspiracy between Feb. 1 and June 16. The codefendants and two other men allegedly communicated with cell phones during the scheme.

On May 6, a friend dropped off Carroll, who did not have a car, at Quail and First streets in the West Hill neighborhood, police have said.

Her boyfriend, Jermon McLean, who she was planning to meet, told police he never saw her. Family members have said Carroll was arguing with McLean through text messaging.

The woman’s family created a Facebook page with photos of Carroll, hoping it would produce leads.